Ebola virus disease in children in Conakry and Coyah Ebola treatment centers and risk factors associated with death.

OBJECTIVE: To study Ebola virus disease (EVD) in children aged 15 years and below, and to identify risk factors associated with death. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter, descriptive, and analytical study of files of children aged 15 years and below in Ebola treatment centers (ETC) of Donka from March 2014 to May 2015. We included all files of children aged 15 years and below hospitalized for EVD in the two ETCs. RESULTS: A total of 739 patients hospitalized in both ETCs, 146 children aged 15 years and below (20%) were registered during the study period. The mean age of children was 6.73±4.26 years. Most children were aged above five years (65.8%) and the mean time to consultation was 4.34±3.21 days. The main clinical signs were asthenia (78.8%), fever (75.3%), anorexia (53.4%), headache (45.9%), vomiting (41.8%), abdominal pain (29.5%), and diarrhea (28.8%). The case fatality was 48%, including 54.3% in Coyah and 45% in Conakry. Older age (aOR=0.83, 95% CI [0.76-0.95]), fever (aOR=3.28, 95% CI [1.22-8.87]), diarrhea (aOR=2.98, 95% CI [1.19-4.48]), and hemorrhage (aOR=3.13, 95% CI [1.00-10.38]) were independently associated with death due to EVD. CONCLUSION: EVD remains serious especially in children, with high case fatality. Risk factors independently associated with death were young age, diarrhea, hemorrhage, and fever. Particular attention to these risk factors and vaccination will contribute to improving the prognosis of EVD in children.

Ebola outbreak in Conakry, Guinea: epidemiological, clinical, and outcome features.

OBJECTIVES: The authors studied the epidemiological, clinical, and outcome features of the Ebola virus disease in patients hospitalized at the Ebola treatment center (ETC) in Conakry to identify clinical factors associated with death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from March 25 to August 20, 2014. The diagnosis of Ebola virus infection was made on real-time PCR. RESULTS: Ninety patients, with a positive test result, were hospitalized. Their mean age was 34.12±14.29 years and 63% were male patients. Most worked in the informal sector (38%) and in the medical and paramedical staff (physicians 12%, nurses 6%, and laboratory technicians 1%). Most patients lived in the Conakry suburbs (74%) and in Boffa (11%). The main clinical signs were physical asthenia (80%) and fever (72%). Hemorrhagic signs were observed in 26% of patients. The comparison of clinical manifestations showed that hiccups (P=0.04), respiratory distress (P=0.04), and hemorrhagic symptoms (P=0.01) were more frequent among patients who died. Malaria (72%) and diabetes (2%) were the most frequent co-morbidities. The crude case fatality rate was 44% [95% confidence interval (33-54%)]. The average hospital stay was 7.96±5.81 days. CONCLUSION: The first Ebola outbreak in Conakry was characterized by the young age of patients, discrete hemorrhagic signs related to lethality. Its control relies on a strict use of preventive measures.